NEW - Irish Super Premium Whiskey

From Irish Distillers experimental division - Method & Madness. M&M is only distributed across Ireland, the U.K. & France.

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The limited edition Single Grain Irish Whiskey 31 Year Old has been matured in an ex-Bourbon cask for 31 years. The rare single cask release has developed a “full deep grain character” and on the palate notes of “honey, juicy mango and ripe melon with an endless dark wood and spicy finish”. The expression, which includes three single cask offerings, is bottled without chill filtration and ranges from 51.3%, 51.8% and 52.5% abv. Limited to 75 bottles. Euro 2,150, approx $2,500 @ 700 ml bottle.

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One of two releases from Midleton's experimental Method and Madness range - and it should be stunning. It's a single pot still whiskey, initially aged in bourbon casks for 6 years, before being moved over to a ruby Port pipe (which was seasoned with a variety of wines before being further seasoned with ruby Port) to age for another 22 years. Astounding uisce beatha (water of life) indeed. Euro 2,000, approx $2,300 @ 700 ml bottle.

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The Redbreast single pot still Irish whiskey brand is a popular part of the larger Irish Distillers/Pernod Ricard Irish whiskey portfolio. The permanent line up of this brand currently includes Redbreast Lustau, regular 12 YO and 12 YO cask strength, 15 and 21 year old offerings. Joining those now is a new release in the form of a 27 year old that’s been partially matured “in ruby port barrels from Portugal’s Douro Valley to bring a new complexity and depth to the Redbreast collection.”

The new Redbreast 27 Year Old, according to those behind it, spent over two and half decades aging under the “watchful eyes of the team at [the] Midleton distillery,” which includes Master Blender Billy Leighton and Blender Dave McCabe.” For over 30 years, said team “travelled to the Douro Valley in Portugal, where port has been produced for two thousand years, to discover the finest caves in the region in a quest to provide drinkers with a truly unique taste experience.

“After sourcing ruby port casks, the masters filled them with pot still distillate before leaving them to mature, then combined them with whiskey aged in bourbon and sherry barrels. The ruby port barrels impart fleshy fruit characteristics with notes of toasted oak which complements the rich and robust style of the distillate.”

“It gives us great pleasure to reveal the latest member of the Redbreast Irish Whiskey family,” said Leighton in a prepared statement. “In creating this whiskey, Dave and I drew on our experience of working with sherry and other wine casks over the years as we have evolved the range. This time, we wanted to push the boundaries and yet create an expression that would seamlessly take its place at the head of the family.

“Nearly three decades in the making, we are incredibly proud to present Redbreast 27 Year Old – a cask strength Redbreast expression that is a joy to behold in each and every sip.”

Produced in limited quantities on an ongoing basis, Redbreast 27 Year Old is bottled at 54.6% ABV. It will initially be available starting this month in 11 global markets for around $500 USD. Prices in the USA vary from $470 to 600.

Official tasting notes for this new Redbreast are as follows.

  • Nose: A mix of exotic fruits and red berries, complemented by fresh herbs and wood spices. Vanilla sweetness and treacle toffee combine with the nuttiness of toasted oak.
  • Taste: Incredibly rich in texture with a luxurious combination of ripe stone fruits and summer berries, balanced by the prickle of a hint of chilli oil. Cherry menthol, vanilla and cinnamon sweet spices complement red pepper, nutmeg and toasted oak.
  • Finish: A satisfyingly long balance of ripe fruit and wood spices, worthy of a journey of nearly three decades.

Philip's comment:

Hard to describe a $5-600 bottle of whiskey as a bargain but the Red Breast 27 YO seems destined to arrrive in Capistrano at some stage for a unique celebration. Given how the 12, 15 & 21 are all very $$ competetive, the 27 should be spectacular !
 
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LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
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very very cool! Makes me feel like a dram of Jefferson Presidential Select 20-year Bourbon!
 

soliver

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2017
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Austin, TX
Anyone had the 27yr Redbreast yet? Saw it in a local store, and I am huge fan of 21yr Redbreast, taste descriptors sound similar
 
Soliver,

I drank the 21 YO Red Breast yesterday afternoon at a friends home before settling down to a music session. This was a recent purchase and has a newer label; with a painting of the red breast (bird) instead of a gold engraving.
I do not claim to have a remarkable memory, nonetheless, the current offering tasted quite different from my memory of the original 21 YO that I drank approx. 3 years ago.
We tried small drams of the 12, 15 and 21 YO.
The current batch of 21 YO has a tight nose, not as much vanilla & caramel as the 12 Yo, nor the floral aroma of the 15 YO, it tastes like a superbly refined whiskey; complex tastes. Super smooth, taste evolved as the whiskey oxidised in the glass. In that regard it was similar to the Red Spot. You never knew how the taste would develop. Ate a cookie, which activated some different taste buds & drank some water to cleanse the palliate; the taste was constantly evolving - delicious.
But if my memory serves me correct, the original 21 YO was more liqueur like, closer to a fine cognac.

I need to return to my friend's home later this week to install a phono stage in a Gryphon Diablo 120, then we plan on comparing the original 21 YO Red Breast to the recent batch of 21 YO and will post comments on the result.
If that is indeed the case, then I will compare last year's batch of Red Spot to the 2020 batch of Red Spot. Still waiting on delivery to my local Total Wine. More anon.
Ciao,
Philip
 
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RB27.jpg

Received a late birthday gift of RB 27 YO from my Pandora this evening ! As you can see from the outside packaging, its Batch # 1, 2020.

I already have the 12, 15 & 21 on hand. Have tried the 12 YO Cask Strength & 12 YO Lusteau but prefer the 15 YO for just a few more $$.
Will celebrate the opening / first taste with you all & share the experience. Should be a blast !

P.S. Expensive, undoubtedly, but is there a value here for a small production run of super premium whiskey. Guess, we'll have to experience, taste, enjoy the aroma & the finest that Irish Distillers have to offer. Can't wait.
 

Ovenmitt

Well-Known Member
Nov 21, 2017
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I just got a bottle of the Redbreast 27 too. I wasn't super impressed when I first tried it and generally preferred the more tropical, kiwi, green apple brightness of the 21. I re-tasted a couple nights ago and was blown away. I'm not sure if it was my headspace the first time around or if maybe some air helped it a bit.... My gosh, the Redbreast 27 is quite profound. IMG_0211.jpg
 

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
14,411
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Soliver,

I drank the 21 YO Red Breast yesterday afternoon at a friends home before settling down to a music session. This was a recent purchase and has a newer label; with a painting of the red breast (bird) instead of a gold engraving.
I do not claim to have a remarkable memory, nonetheless, the current offering tasted quite different from my memory of the original 21 YO that I drank approx. 3 years ago.
We tried small drams of the 12, 15 and 21 YO.
The current batch of 21 YO has a tight nose, not as much vanilla & caramel as the 12 Yo, nor the floral aroma of the 15 YO, it tastes like a superbly refined whiskey; complex tastes. Super smooth, taste evolved as the whiskey oxidised in the glass. In that regard it was similar to the Red Spot. You never knew how the taste would develop. Ate a cookie, which activated some different taste buds & drank some water to cleanse the palliate; the taste was constantly evolving - delicious.
But if my memory serves me correct, the original 21 YO was more liqueur like, closer to a fine cognac.

I need to return to my friend's home later this week to install a phono stage in a Gryphon Diablo 120, then we plan on comparing the original 21 YO Red Breast to the recent batch of 21 YO and will post comments on the result.
If that is indeed the case, then I will compare last year's batch of Red Spot to the 2020 batch of Red Spot. Still waiting on delivery to my local Total Wine. More anon.
Ciao,
Philip
I just picked up the Redbreast 21 after getting the Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett Legacy. Complete coincidence that it arrived this week, and then when I went here to post a comment...I saw your post. Look forward to trying it!

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They are both wonderful whiskies; something serious to look forward to.
Have not cracked open the Red Breast 27 yet. Nor have I opened the Midleton An Dair Ghaelach yet.
Fun times in store for both of us. Slainte. (cheers in Gaelic)
Philip

 

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
14,411
2,509
1,448
They are both wonderful whiskies; something serious to look forward to.
Have not cracked open the Red Breast 27 yet. Nor have I opened the Midleton An Dair Ghaelach yet.
Fun times in store for both of us. Slainte. (cheers in Gaelic)
Philip

Do let us know how the 27-year goes! Very intrigued. When I have gone after some of the more expensive whiskys...I have tended to focus on areas where I have extremely high conviction...Springbank 21, Macallan 30, some of the small barrel special releases from people I know.

So if the 21 year Red Breast is as good as people say, I may venture forth a bit further even...stay tuned!
 

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
14,411
2,509
1,448
They are both wonderful whiskies; something serious to look forward to.
Have not cracked open the Red Breast 27 yet. Nor have I opened the Midleton An Dair Ghaelach yet.
Fun times in store for both of us. Slainte. (cheers in Gaelic)
Philip

So following on from your great recommendations, I have now cracked open the Redbreast 21 year (and separately the Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett). Both excellent. The winner for me is the Redbreast 21 year. This is the more recent edition and I am tempted to go back per your note, Philip, and look at the older 21-year which is still available.

The Redbreast has a more defined purity, clarity of palate than the Midleton which is extremely good...just not as good. Yes, I also preferred the flavors of the Redbreast which is 'fruitier', and also less 'buzzy' than the Midleton. The Redbreast feels like a more polished result.

For someone who has enjoyed well-aged Campletown whiskys, Lowlands, and Nikkas as well as the occasional Speyside and specialist small barrel bourbons (Jefferson Presidential and Sazerac Rye 18-year)...it was quite a remarkable experience to go across the smaller waters (as opposed to the Atlantic or Pacific) to Ireland and enjoy such august whiskys. I am now investigating Redbreast further! Thanks, Philip!

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